Buffalo Boy's Blog
Giving You More Than Just My Two Cents
December 2009 Archives
Sabres Watch
From this point forward I invite all hockey fans interested in following a winning team to check out Sabres Watch. I did the Doc Watch which was my response to The Joba Watch, Jays fans watching a great pitcher do great things while Yankee fans watched a mediocre pitcher do mediocre things.
Well, Sabres Watch is my response to Freddie P's Leafs/Habs Watch. Fred and Freeway Frank have been going at it watching two mediocre hockey teams battle for who will be fourth in the Northeast.
While they follow those two teams, I'll be watching the first place Buffalo Sabres do great things in 2010, come join The Sabres Watch, the Sabres will finish ahead of both Montreal and Toronto, hows that Freddie and Frank!
BTW, Im making another friendly prediction: Speaking of greatness, Ryan Miller will lead Team USA to victory over Team Canada in the 2010 Winter Games.
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Comeback Kids
We are contenders right now. I know most would say Im jinxing it but I don't care. We are the third best team in the entire NHL right now. We just beat the second best team by coming from 3 goals down to do it last night and in a 7 game series with Ryan Miller in net, Im taking Buffalo over Pittsburgh any day.
The reason for the poor starts lately is the busy schedule plain and simple. Tired legs need a period to get going and thats what the last few games have been about.
Last night Drew Stafford came back from being a healthy scratch and earned his way back into the line up but he has to keep doing what he did, no not three points every night, just be consistent.
If there was ever a time to make a deal to bolster what this team has its now. We need a big gun on offense. The scary thing is I think we have a big gun that just hasn't found his game get and its Thomas Vanek. It would be nice to find another one to take the pressure off.
There have been signs that slumps are starting to end but nothing consistent yet, over the next few weeks Darcy needs to start looking at guys like Derek Roy (everyones favorite whipping post), Connolly and Vanek and see if this team has the offense to go into the playoffs with, if the answer is no, then we make a move using one of those guys.
Five guys who may not require a huge investment before the deadline I would like to see come here via trade who could provide that offensive spark:
Kristian Huselius- a 20-30 goal scorer on the left wing, would easily fit in with Tim Connolly or Derek Roy.
Paul Kariya- Maybe not the player he was say 5-7 years ago but still, hes got lots of experience for a deep run into the playoffs and hes a great playmaker who when healthy can still do it with talent around him, the problem is, the Blues don't have much talent.
Keith Tkachuk- Sticking with the Blues theme, another valuable veteran who is on the train to nowhere with St. Louis. You could probably get him cheap and hes still a solid guy for the powerplay especially in the playoffs, at 6'2" and 232 pounds he'll go to the front of the net and take a beating in the playoffs knowing hes on a cup contender.
Thomas Holmstrom- I know Im nuts for even thinking about this but Detroit ain't that good this year, they are sitting in 10th and have been since November, maybe they try to get younger this year and take a step back. Keep an eye on them they could sell guys like Holmstrom trying to get younger and at the same time better, yet Holmstrom with the right group could be rejuvenated for a playoff run and be a great leader in the lockerroom and contributer on the ice. Holmstrom can still net 20-30 if healthy.
Saku Koivu- Another veteran who can score and lead. Anaheim another disappointing team that may look to unload.
It doesn't have to be an elite player, just a veteran who still has some legs who can lead into the playoffs. If Darcy does it right we keep what we have here intact in bring in someone as a rental. Its not about next year at this point, its about this year, we are good enough now we just need that one guy to put it over the top, do it before the Olympics and let who ever you get gel a bit.
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
New BS Airline Rules
Its pathetic how reactive our airlines are. Now after the latest terror attempt which lest we forget did not originate in a US airport or on a domestic flight passengers are being told of new BS "airline safety rules".
I thought this kind of reactive taking away of our rights would end after George W. Bush left office, instead they continue. Seriously, what good are new rules such as not having any personal items on your lap during the last hour of your flight? No getting out of your seat for the last hour of your flight? What kind of bullshit rules are these?
They already take their good old time feeling you up, walking through metal detectors and taking your shoes off on your way to your plane what have they not found during this process that you can't have on your lap? Its bad enough you can't have liquids or god forbid a bottle of friggin water to drink because airlins have become too cheap to serve a cold beverage without charging you $5.
I understand safety, but it goes overboard and quite frankly, Im glad I don't fly. Im glad that I don't need to get on a plane regularly because the going through my bags and patting me down slowly and telling me what I can and can't do when Im on the plane after I've spent a weeks salary on a plane ticket, I think I'd punch someone before the flight was over.
How about we go to Amsterdam and Nigeria and say hey, why don't you guys get off your asses and screen your passengers before you send them to our country instead of taking away more of what ever rights we have when we travel.
Have to take a piss real bad? Sorry can't do it you can't get up out of your seat during the last hour of the flight.....Scared shitless of flying? Sorry you can't read your book to take your mind off the fact we are flying with two pilots who are undertrained in icy conditions...sorry.
I say take down the security and take all the costs off the backs of the airlines so flying becomes cheaper and airlines can put more money into training their pilots because the fact is, I have less of a chance of being killed by a lunatic on a plane than I do of being killed by inexperienced pilots. Drop the rules that limit what passengers can do or can't do and put more into making the travel experience a pleasant one.Category: News
Seven Years Since Strummer Left Us
In my top five favorite musicians of all time, Joe Strummer ranks number one. He was the complete package. He wasn't in it for the money, he was in it to entertain and provide kick ass rock and roll shows to fans of all ages.The man was the driving force behind the most important rock band probably in the history of rock and roll, I would take arguments on the Stones, Beatles, Velvet Underground or Beach Boys, but what other band influenced musicians like the Joe Strummer and The Clash did? Not many.Category: Music
Sabres 3, Leafs 2
These guys scare me the most. No not the Bruins, Sens or Habs, The Toronto Maple Leafs. They are no longer the Maple Laughs in my book. This is a good team that hasn't gotten much goaltending or defense but they have one thing no one thought they would have....offense, and I don't mean they are offensive in a bad way.
As of today the Leafs have scored more goals than any other team in the Northeast Division with 106, they have also given up the most goals including Im sure a few stinkers by Toskala.
The Sabres may have won last night and extended their lead over everyone in the Northeast to 6 points and 13 points over the Leafs, but of everyone in this division, "The Monster" Jonas Gustavsson and the Leafs scare me the most, look out for a strong run by this club, Ron Wilson doesn't coach losers, he turns losers into winners and this team with any kind of goaltending/defense over the second half will be very dangerous.
Out of respect I posted "The Monster" instead of the Sabre logo.
Meanwhile we won again without Vanek in the lineup and Ryan Miller was stellar yet again. Team USA here we come!
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Winter I Can Live With
This is a winter I can live with so far. If anyone is keeping track today was the first day of winter, the shortest day of the year. The days get longer from here and so far can anyone complain? We had a couple rough days but nothing terrifying yet.
Today it was a very light yet as I thought to myself pretty snow. It didn't bother anything and with no wind it was actually comfortable outside, your ears didn't feel like they would fall off without a hat on and it was quite nice for December 21st.
I can live with 25-30 degrees and very light snow, just enough to make the lights look nice as people say. That and no wind and we have it made. Unlike last year if anyone remembers I don't think the wind stopped between November and April, this year we have had it pretty good.
Maybe I spoke too soon but hey, its all downhill from here, we gain four minutes of daylight between now and New Years Day. YEAH!
Category: Weather
Sunday Retro (on Monday)
I have been not keeping up with Sunday Retro lately and it will get better. This week I figured I would go with some Joe Strummer and the Clash. On December 22nd, 2002 an icon was lost way too early. He was in the midst of a resurgence with his new band the Mescaleros and there were rumblings of a Clash reunion...that didn't happen. Joe Strummer left us at the age of 50. Way too young.
He was my John Lennon, my Elvis Presley, My Kurt Cobain. Joe Strummer was that influential as he led as the great Martin Streek, who passed away this year, used to say the Greatest Band of All Time, The Clash:Category: Sunday Retro
There Is Always A Catch
I saw the deal on Channel 4 recently where you could get a free Blackberry
So, right from the start I am not interested in changing my plan, however I looked into the deal and went to the softwares homepage and in order to get a Blackberry T-Mobile REQUIRES you to purchase into their web service which runs about $30-35 bucks per month....um thanks but no thanks.
Lets see, if both my wife and I did that deal our unlimited plan would go from $79 per month or around there to somewhere in the $140 per month area plus we are still paying for our Time Warner Roadrunner service which is $50 per month......thats $190 per month for phone and internet....
Sorry, Im sticking to a phone that does two things, dials and rings. I don't even text that much to begin with never mind texting while driving but the thought of a new Blackberry to catch me up with the technologically elite sounded kinda fun for a minute especially if it really was a free Blackberry, but its not, they get ya by forcing you to add to your current contract which get me right back to where I was, cell phone companies in the scheme of things rank right down there with the scum of the earth including health insurance companies, Joe Leiberman and coorporate CEO's on Wallstreet.
For a technology that has been around for a good long while now the price sure hasn't gone down much. This deal wasn't about preventing texting, it was about luring a lot of gullible people into adding to their plans by forcing them to get internet if they wanted the free Blackberry.
Category: Miscellaneous
Sabres 5, Leafs 2
The Leafs had it going good through the half way point of the second period and Toni Lydman, yes a D-man other than Tyler Myers and Henrik Tallinder creates some offense with this innocent looking shot:
Of course, that isn't the first time Leaf fans have seen Toskala let a long, pathetic looking shot like that go in: We were down and out, we hadn't scored in a game and a half, we have been the busiest team in the month of December in the league, we have injuries and food poisoning but let this team see the light of day and we snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, this is a different team with a different feeling folks.Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Franken Plays Hardball for Dems
Finally, FINALLY! Someone in the democratic party plays a little hard ball with the repukes. Yes I know Joe Leiberman is technically a democrat but what this move by Al Franken and Senate democrats says is thanks but no thanks Joe.
Seriously, I respect Al Gore a lot, but what ever possessed him to pick this sniveling, little prick like Leiberman back in 2000 as a running mate? Could you imagine if Al Gore had won in 2000, this is really pushing the envelope but, Joe "The Ho" Leiberman could have been a very viable presidential candidate in 2008 and we could be looking at this bought off bag of sleeze running our country.....Yikes.
Yeah thats right Joe shut the hell up, and while your at it, take that crabby old bastard John McCain with you, you can both go cuddle with each other under an Arizona cactus. What did Joe Leiberman expect? The repukes probably under his direction had the Bernie Sander's single payer bill read on the floor on Wednesday just to waste time!!!! Seriously, I know there are republicans/conservatives who read my blog but ask yourselves one thing here, can you name one idea, one constructive idea the republicans have contributed to the healthcare bill? From day one President Obama has bent himself over so far backwards that hes now got his own head firmly entrenched in his ass and has pissed off his entire base just to have the republicans involved in the healthcare bill. Obama ran on single payer, that was what he ran on, but he started negotiating by not even having the single payer bill at the table much to the dismay of those who elected him. He made the first move in negotiating this bill, yet from day one republicans in both the house and the senate have bitch slapped the president and the democrats with lies and obstructionist tactics instead of actually trying to come up with ideas to insert into the bill. As far as I am concerned I applaud Al Franken for providing a little piss and vinegar for the first time on the democratic side and giving the republicans a little of their own medicine. The Repukes continue to be no ideas and all obstructionism. Maybe they should rename the republican party to the Obstructionist party, or the Idealess party, both fit.Category: Politics | healthcare
Christmas: Humble and Fred Style
I have been hanging onto this since I started this blog, waiting for the chance to convert this cassette full of Christmas cheer to MP3. It is the 1998 Humble and Fred Christmas Spectacular featuring the Barenaked Ladies. Humble and Fred can correct me if I am wrong but 1998 was the last year that the band played. Stephen made appearances after Humble and Fred switched to MOJO but for the most part that was it.
So, enjoy and Merry Christmas! I hear the guys are working on Humble and Fred Podcast #5 so this should provide some fun listening until that is up and running. There are 6 parts so have a listen!
Merry Christmas Big Pharma/Insurance
Category: News | Politics | healthcare
Sabres 4, Habs 3
Down with the Habs. You can thank us later Leaf fans and Freddie P, we stuck it to the Habs tonight with a come from behind effort.
Patrick Kaleta the Buffalo area native is now on a three goals in two games stretch and has 6 on the season tied with Tim Connolly. Kaleta is becoming not just a disturber on the ice, but an offensive threat.
Tyler Myers had another assist giving him 17 points on the season and realistically could he be in the running if the season ended today for a Norris trophy?
We gave the Leafs some big time help and they gave us a little pick me up by takng care of the Ottawa Senators. The Flyers also beat the Bruins which means we now have a 4 point lead over everyone else in the Northeast and games in hand over everyone.
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Time Flies
Holy crap, shes exactly two and a half months old today. Yikes. The worlds cutest baby Olivia Mary McCoulf will not be a baby much longer, time flies when you have kids I guess.
Category: Baby Buffalo Girl
Doc To Philly
That's it, the greatest pitcher in the history of the Toronto Blue Jays is now a Philadelphia Philly. While I am disappointed that we got not one major league ready player, I am estactic that Doc will not be playing for the Yankees or the Red Sox.
As for Roy no longer being a Blue Jay its a sad day. The fact that this organization couldn't find way to put a winning team around the best pitcher in baseball over the last 10 years is beyond me. There have been some good teams over the last 10 years, its not as if they haven't been close, they have won 87 games one year but couldn't get the wild card.
I put this squarely on the shoulders of not only JP Riccardi but on Blue Jay ownership for not providing the resources when they were close enough to make moves that would have put this team over the top.
Being in the same division as the Yankees and Red Sox its no secret that you have to spend money and this team did spend, but they didn't go the extra distance to put the depth on this team, they bought a shiny coat for a rust bucket and hoped the shiny coat would last the year.
I can actually root for Halladay in Philly, I have nothing against the Phillies, Im actually hoping for a nice Yankees/Phillies rematch next year and it would be sweet to see Halladay get the ball late in the next years World Series in a clinching game against the Evil Empire.
Good Luck Roy and thanks for not going to the Yankees/Red Sux. This also will officially end my Doc Watch which was implemented in response to the Yankees "Joba" Watch, while Yankee fans were watching a mediocre pitcher do mediocre things, Toronto fans watches a great pitcher to great things.
Maybe we will get Kyle Drabek in the prospects from Philly.
Category: The Doc Watch | Toronto Blue Jays
Overtime Loss is Deceiving
The NHL really has to do away with this overtime loss format and the pity point. A look up and down the NHL standings would have the average fan believe that only 5 teams sit with below .500 records. That is far from the truth.
You want the real record: Add the L column and the OTL column that will tell you if your team is really bad or not, take away the pity point and teams really come down to earth.
In the East the real first place team right now is the New Jersey Devils, they have lost just once in overtime, all other losses have come in regulation. They currently have 43 points, 3 behind the Washington Capitals. Subtract New Jersey's pity point and they still have 42 points.
Washington has 46 points but if you take out their 6 pity points they come down to 40 points and 2 behind New Jersey.
Buffalo would drop two points after removing their pity points and would remain comfortably in 3rd place overall. Take away pity points from Boston, Ottawa and Montreal and their lead in the Northeast division widens significantly.
Without overtime losses the following teams would have losing records:
NY Rangers: 14-16
Philadelphia Flyers: 14-15
Montreal Canadiens: 15-17
Tampa Bay Lightning: 11-20 (9 overtime losses)
Detroit Red Wings: 15-16 (Yes the mighty Detroit Red Wings have 5 OTL, they are currently sitting out of a playoff spot even with the pity points)
Columbus Blue Jackets: 14-17
St. Louis Blues: 13-17
Edmonton Oilers: 15-17
Minnesota Wild: 15-16
Dallas Stars: 14-17 (Without their 9 OTL the Stars have a very impressive 14-8-9 record at first glance until as an eductated fan you realize the third column are all losses. The Stars probably have the most to lose if they lose their points they would sink from 8th place and in the playoffs to 13th and a good 6 points or so out of a playoff spot.)
When you readjust the points and records you go from 5 teams with losing records to 15, half the league which is really how it should be. The bad teams now become even worse:
Toronto would drop from 27 to 20 points and way out in the standings, Carolina would go from 20 points to just 14 lousy points on the season and the Islanders would go from 29 points to 22 points.
Mr. Bettman and the league office I beg of you as a rational hockey fan, restore some integrity to the NHL, do the right thing after this season is over and do away with pity points for overtime losses and call them what they are, losses. If you want to keep track of a stat, keep track of overtime wins. Reward teams for winning in overtime, those are the teams who deserve the point. Make overtime wins worth 3 points instead of two and the winner gets nothing. OTW's instead of OTL's.
Professionals don't need to be rewarded for losing, they are pros they can take it.
Category: Hockey
Lalime Earns Some Playing Time
Two games against two of the highest scoring teams in the league, not only do we out score them but we hold them to one goal total between the two games.
A shutout of Washington and a one goal performance last night against Chicago with Patrick Lalime in net looks quite nice.
Incase you are keeping track Lalime has started a grand total of 3 games so far and has appeared in 4. With 29 games played that puts him on pace to start roughly 8 games and appear in 10, which would put Ryam Miller at about 72-74 games in goal on the season not including the Olympics and playoffs.
Last night was huge for the Sabres because Patrick Lalime earned himself some playing time and bought Ryan Miller some much needed rest in the future. This guy can play when you give him the opportunity.
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Humble and Fred Teaser
If you didn't notice with my last post I had to switch to a new audio player. No its not as nice and detailed as the Imeem one but Houndbite will suffice. Mike Boon super technical guy referred me to Houndbite to get the audioclips running again as Myspace ate up Imeem. Above is a teaser, a week from Friday I will post a little treat for Humble and Fred fans for the Holidays.....You may use the comments section to guess and if you are a true fan you will guess without a problem...if you know, stay tuned, Im in the process of recording it and sometime next Friday I'll throw up some classic H&F.Category: Christmas | Humble and Fred | Miscellaneous | Music
Special Edition Humble and Fred Storm Center
Yes tis the season for ugly ass winter storms with snow, freezing rain, sleet and what ever else can fall from the sky, not to mention if that wasn't enough of an insult we can expect tropical storm force winds with that....Where did summer go again?This is a special edition of uh...Humble and Fred's Storm Center headed up by Sandra Plagakis plus a little Dateline Humble and Fred one of my favorite clips I have downloaded:
Category: Humble and Fred | Weather | radio
Miss Piggy: DROP THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE THING
This horrible excuse for a human being needs to go away...every time she opens her mouth she needs another foot to insert into it. She is totally clueless.
Just when you think the birther crap had gone away she brings it up AGAIN. She said that the "public has rightfully made it an issue"... no, a few right wing extremists have made it an issue, the public at large doesn't care because there is no issue with Barack Obama's birth certificate.
If Obama's birth certificate is an issue then we should demand proof that she actually completed grade school.
She also talks about the debt that Obama harnessed the country with even though the Bush administration left Obama with the mess and the initial bailout and record deficits.
It was Bush that never funded the Afghanistan war appropriately and never went after those truly responsible for 9/11.
This woman is a quitter, she quit on the state of Alaska. She then is asked about global warming and the environment....yeah a woman who shoots animals from a helicopter is really concerned about the environment.
Category: Politics
Nirvana Live At Reading
If you have a music lover in the family the new release Nirvana Live at Reading is just awesome. Its one of the most electric, raw and downright bad ass rock and roll concerts I have ever listened to. You can see a few of the cuts on Youtube including one of my favorite Nirvana songs of all time Sliver. Of all the live albums I have gotten my hands on over the years this one ranks in my top 5 live performances ever, check it out:
Category: Music
Rangers 2, Sabres 1
Looked at the schedule and figured that if there was a loss upcoming last night was the night. I hate when Im right, especially on stuff like that.
The Sabres actually dominated the play for chunks of the first and third periods but Henrik Lundqvist proved too much and the Rangers found a way to net both their goals in our two best periods last night.
We really miss Chris Drury on face offs, with Gaustad out we officially suck on faceoffs. Is it me or is Tyler Myers assisting on every goal lately? He officially sits tied for fifth on the team in points with 3 goals and 12 assists, do I hear rookie All-Star?
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Retro Christmas
Here are my top five favorite Christmas songs from back then....in no particular order. Chime in with more if you like:Category: Christmas | Sunday Retro
Jets 19, Bills 13
For any of you who got giddy last week and had delusional thoughts of Perry Fewel being the next head coach and Ryan Fitzpatrick being the full time starting quarterback think again.
Last night was another horrendous effort in which their new coach made the excuse that two games in five days took its toll on how his team played....well boo hoo. What did he think the Jets did last Sunday? Sit on the beach with umbrellas in their drinks? The Jets were in the same boat playing with their mediocre quarterback.
TO continued his downward spiral, there I said it, who gives a care about the last two weeks for him, he payed against inexperienced cornerbacks the last two weeks, put any cornerback with any kind of skill or experience on him and TO folds up like a cheap tent.
The Bills have 4 wins, Im making a prediction right now...they will do no better than 1-3 the rest of the way. 5-11 is their final totals on the season and as bad as this team is, thats a pretty nice record because they probably didn't deserve 3 of those wins. The only two they really deserved to win were the Tampa game and Miami last Sunday.
Don't take this the wrong way Toronto, but you guys don't deserve the Bills. I mean that on two levels, on one hand you really don't deserve the poor quality of football this team plays, on another level, the presentation put on by Rogers Communications by all accounts was piss poor.
Category: Buffalo Bills
Sabres 6, Habs 2
Nothing is better than seeing the Habs go down in flames except maybe watching any team beat the crap out of the Yankees. The Habs are slowly sinking toward the bottom of the league as their 100th anniversery is upon us.....Go Bruins tonight
Last night the Sabres continued their impressive run with their fourth win in a row. It was an impressive game that saw Ryan Miller continue his dominance on the season and Thomas Vanek come up with three assists and Jason Pominville come to life.
The Sabres get a rare Friday night off before going up against Chris Drury and the Rangers, I think most of us are over the departure of Drury and Briere at this time though Drury is still my favorite player in the league.
Henrik Lundqvist has not been playing well at all lately so it will be interesting to see how the Sabres fare against him.
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Taliban Out of Afghanistan in 50 Days?
Karl Rove apparently has a different calendar than we do, according to him the Bush Administration had Al Qaeda and the Taliban out of Afghanistan 50 days after 9/11.........when was that again? oh yeah 2001, what year is it now? 2009...how many days are in Karl Rove's years? Why are we still in Afghanistan? This is not like we left and now Obama is having us go back, this was never given the attention when it needed it, instead we went to Iraq which was the WRONG MOVE on Bush's part. Here is Big Ed with more:Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Category: Politics
What's Up With The Downtown Casino?
I don't drive past it too much but the last time I did about a month ago there is still that initial steel skeleton sitting downtown with no progress being made.
What is going on with this project? The Seneca's were being sued by the anti-casino (casino funded) group but said that they were stopping construction due to the economy...
Well here we are, the DOW has recovered and there hasn't been a whiff of news from The Senecas or anyone about what is happening.
What is going on with this? Is Buffalo getting screwed again on another $300 million dollar project? (the last being the Adelphia building). And while we are on the subject is Bass Pro still coming?
To any business or coorporation looking to set up shop in Buffalo, listen, don't make promises you cant keep. Im going to shoot an email out to Seneca Gaming and see what they say....stay tuned.
Category: Buffalo
Sabres 3, Leafs 0
I have to say that I feel sorry for the Leafs, they are my second favorite team dating back to when they were in the other conference and could only play Buffalo in the playoffs if they made it to the finals.
But these days the Leafs and their fans aren't thinking about cup finals, they are just thinking about getting to 20 points on the season maybe if the stars align themselves being competitive for that 8th and final playoff spot.
After last night I have to agree with Mike Boon, the Leafs are no where close to a playoff team right now, they and their fans deserve better. Brian Burke should have provided a warning when he took over, things would get worse before they get better.
The Sabres meanwhile are riding one hot goalie. Ryan Miller is looking unbeatable right now and if the season ended today, Miller is the first goalie to win the MVP and Vezina since a guy by the name of The Dominator. You never know, it could be Olympic Gold, Vezina, MVP and knock on wood more.....Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
